Our Faculty

Lori Hays Elder is a nationally recognized award winning choreographer and instructor. She has been teaching since 1982 and was certified by the Cecchetti Council of America on the professional level at the age of 15. Her studies include classical ballet techniques Bournonville and Cecchetti, as well as the jazz and contemporary techniques of Giordano and Horton. She has received scholarships from Oklahoma City University, Oklahoma Summer Arts, The Cecchetti Council of America, The Pulse, Showstoppers. Her students have been awarded scholarships to the Pulse, Monster's of Hip Hop, Co. Dance, LA Dance Magic, New York on the Road, LA Underground, Tremaine, Oklahoma Summer Arts Institute, Walnut Hill High School of Performing Arts in Boston, The Royal Winnipeg Ballet in Canada, Ballet Oklahoma, Texas Women's University, Millenium Dance in Los Angeles and Broadway Dance Center in New York City. She has coached her Pom Pon groups to six National Championships as well as groups in lyrical, ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop and musical theater. Lori has been the director of the Dancenter for 29 years. Lori's students have performed for numerous local events as well as events in Branson, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Myrtle Beach, New York City, St. Louis and Tulsa.

Business Manager

Phyllis Fowler has been involved in dance for 38 years. She has worked in Business Management in the fields of medicine and software developement for 29 years and has been working in the dance world for 31 years.

Assistant Director

Alicia Shive has danced since the age of 4. She is a former Dancenter student and·competitor. She attended Texas Women's University, and performed with Ballet Oklahoma and the Denton Civic Ballet. At the age of 13 she performed in Balloon Boy as the lead which was originated for her at the Walnut Hill High School of Performing Arts in Boston. She was accepted to the Royal Winnipeg Ballet at the age of 16 years.

Instructors

Jacob Hays began his dance career at The Dancenter 15 years ago. He has studied and competed in multiple styles of dance. Ronnie has been awarded scholarships from The Pulse, Monsters of Hip Hop, LA Dance Magic, Showstopper, Oklahoma City University and Broadway Dance Center..J-Rob has studied with Mia Michaels, Tyce Diorio, Brian Friedman, NappyTabs, LaurieAnn Gibson and Marty Kudulka. He has also done intensive studies with Robert Hoffman (Step Up 2), Dave Scott (Step Up) and broadway's Andy Blankenbuehler (In the Heights) and is a former Pulse Protege.

Cristhian Guzman is a former Honeybee, Red Dawg Cheerleader and Thunder Girl. Her dynamic and hard-hitting choreography can be seen in both the competitive dance world and commercially. She currently choreographs for numerous high school and college dance teams, as well as for Coyote Ugly and other commercial industry giants. Her choreography has won numerous awards, most notably her hip hop choreography with Nathan Hales High School in Tulsa. Cristhian also coached the Stinger, the NBA Hornets Junior Dance Team. We are so very please to have her joining us as a full-time instructor this season!

Miranda Hales also began her dance career at The Dancenter. She has studied a number of types of dance and performed in a great number of award winning routines.Miranda has studied the Cecchetti Method of Classical ballet. She is a graduate of Oklahoma State University and specializes in students ages 18 months to age 6. She is the mother of two adorable little boys and resides in Midwest City with her husband Chris.

Dannell Ross was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, where she has danced for 32 years. She has studied many different genres of dance, includingTap, Jazz, Ballet, Pointe, Lyrical, Contemporary, Musical Theatre, Hawiian, Latin, Hip-hop, and Pom. In her twenty one year competitive dance career, Ross has earned six overall titles as a soloist and numerous regional and national team championships with organizations such as Dance Masters of America and Dancer Educators of America. Earning these titles has provided her with the opportunity to represent Oklahoma in national title competitions and conventions and study with world reknown artists. After dancing professionally in Branson, MO, Ross was awarded a dance scholarship at the University of Central Oklahoma , where she was a member of the Kaleidoscope Dance Company. in 2003, Ross expanded her dance career to include teaching group fitness classes, and eventually becoming a professional Figure and Fitness competitor and judge. She has been a dance instructor for over 20 years, teaching a wide variety of dance genres to ages two through adult, as well as coaching competitive high school pom squads. Ross was the Owner, Creative Director, and Choreographer for her own dance studio in NW OKC for six years, and has been a judge for regional and national dance compeitions for many years. Judging has given her the priviledge to watch, critique, and celebrate incredibly talented dancers from all over the United States, who share her passion for the art of dance. Dannell has had a life-long love for dance, which has become a true passion for teaching dance recreationally, and training competitive dancers. She is now sharing that gift of dance with her daughter, who she is blessed to have the opportunity to teach as one of her students. Dannell will be coaching our Mini Team and Baby Hip Hop.

Michelle Rambo has bachelor’s degrees in Fine Arts in Dance Performance from the University of Central Oklahoma and Kinesiology from East Central University (ECU). She became the first recipient of the ECU Dance Scholarship, where, for two years, she was captain for the Collage Dance Ensemble. She became the Artistic Director for ECU dance minor program. She has performed in the National Dance Association’s Gala Performance in Baltimore, Maryland and Wichita, Kansas. She has performed in the Oklahoma Centennial Parade and Neiman’s Children Christmas Parade. Michelle has had the privilege to teach alongside some of the best: Keith Clifton, Jackie Sleight, Rhonda Miller, Huggy Ford and Lauren Gaul, just to name a few. Michelle has been fortunate to choreograph for the well-known professional Race Dance Company located in Oklahoma City, OK. She has choreographed national hip hop pom routines for McLennan Community College and University of Oklahoma (OU). She recently taught at the Soul De Soul dance convention as a guest artist in Oklahoma City, OK. She has taught at the American College Dance Association at Southeast Missouri State University and Anderson Indiana University. Michelle is currently focusing on being a dance competition judge and starting her new dance faculty position in the Musical theatre department for the University of Oklahoma (OU).

Kylee Shive has danced at The Dancenter for the past 16 years. Her studies include ballet, contemporary, hip hop, jazz, musical theater, pointe and tap. She has been a studio assitant for six years and is in her second year of student teaching. She is a competitive dancer and is planning a career in dance. She has won scholarships to The Pulse and Hollywood Dance Connection.

Jessica Phelps has 8 years of cheer and pom experience. She attended the University of Kentucky and has a BA in English.She is an exercise enthusiast, having run in multiple races including several half marathons and one ful marathon. Weightlifting has become her new passion, and she is currently working towards personal training certification.

Sarah Wilson will be joining us this season as our Intermediate/Advanced Tumbling Instructor. Sarah is a student at the University of Oklahoma and is a gymnastics instructor at Bart Conner Gymnastics Academy where she is a former competitor.

Donavan Calvert is currently a music teacher with Mid-Del Schools. He brings to us piano and guitar instruction.

Student Instructors

Ava Conceicao is a student at Carl Albert High School where she is a member of the Pom Squad and is active in Leadership, Rotary Club, Student Council, Key Club, ECO and has performed there in a number of musicals. She has danced for over 12 years and is in her second year of teaching hip hop. She has been awarded scholarships from Hollywood Connection, Creative Connect and ASH Dance Conventions.

Jazmine Jones attends Westmoore High School and is active on Student Council Class Council, Link Crew, Spanish Club, and the Multicultural Club. She has been dancing for 10 years and has studied ballet, contemporary, hip hop and jazz. She will be teaching beginning hip hop classes. Jazmine is known for beinga powerful hip hop performer and instructor.

Masamai Carpenter is a passionate dancer and is planning to be a professional dancer. She has studied multiple styles of dance for oer 12 years and has performed in a number of award winning routines. She has performed at Thunder Games and the Bricktown Ballpark, as well as being in several flash mobs and non-profit performances. She was a studio assistant for the past three years.

Jack Breault - bio coming soon!

Guest Instructors

Sunshine Dukeshas been with the Dancenter from it's beginning. She returned to teach 3 years ago. Sunshine's specialty is Tap, but she is trained and well versed in ballet, jazz, hip hop and lyrical. Sunshine has over 20 years of teaching expereince to bring to her students and classes. Sunshine teaches ballroom dance and is currently employed with the Oklahoma CIty Public School system.

Austin Nieves began his dance career at the Dancenter.. Although he is an all around dancer his true love is Hip Hop. He holds numerous·overall·wins in his style of dance. He was accepted to the intensive program in New York City with The Pulse Convention Tours where he studied with Step Up choreographer Dave Scott and Newsie's choreographer Ricky Hinds. Austin teaches all levels of Hip Hop and jazz. His choreography has been seen on the local stages, as well as stages in Denver, Los Angeles and New York City. He is a member of the Race Dance Company & Men of Race and is a recent graduate of the University of Central Oklahoma. He serves as the Director of the Men of RACE Dance Company.

Kristen Privette began her dance training and career at The Dancenter as a young child. She has studied all forms of dance and was an avid competitor, winning numerous regional and national titles while at The Dancenter. Kristen later attended the University of Oklahoma where she was a member of the Pom/Dance Team and served as Co-Captain her Senior year. She recently graduated with honors and is teaching classes geared to assist students and prepare them for try-outs and auditions.

Zachary Treadway has been a student at The Dancenter since age 2 and has studied ballet, contemporary and hip hop. He has also been a competitive gymnast for over 12 years with Bart Conner Gymnastic Academy. He is currently a competitive gymnast at the Univeristy of Illinois Champaign-Urbana under coach and former Olympic Medalist Justin Spring. He finished last season with three Gold and 2 Silver Medals at the Junior Olympic Championships in Battle Creek, Michigan.

Amanda Wilkinson has studied dance since the age of 6 at the Dancenter and was an avid dance competitor for 18 years. Amanda participated in numberous national award winning numbers and was named Talent Winner in the Miss Del City Jr. Pageant. She has been teaching at the Dancenter for 10 years and is currently the Assistant Director. Amanda's dancers have won numerous local, regional and national awards. She is currently an elementary school teacher in the Choctaw-Nicoma Park School District.

Alyzabeth Barbalace has danced competitively for a number of years ans is an avid tap dancer. She has danced in New York, New Jersey and Hawaii. Alyzabeth is currently a nursing student at the University of Oklahoma.